To design is to give tangible meaning to a concept or idea. Specifically, a design can be described as a drawing or plan that defines how something looks, works or functions. Electronic circuit board designs incorporate this definition and consist of two integrated yet distinct stages: schematic capture and PCB layout.
For boards of any degree of complexity, creating a schematic is a mandatory prelude for an accurate and efficient PCB design process. Schematic capture is a multi-step process itself. To ensure that all necessary steps are performed, it is best to follow a well-defined PCB schematic checklist.
PCB Schematic Design Checklist Steps
When designing the schematic for your PCBA, it is important to include the steps below.
The steps listed above are essential to help you create your schematic efficiently and accurately. This makes the next stage of PCB design, the layout easier and faster. It may be tempting to forego one or more of the steps given; however, doing so can backfire and end up costing you and/or team time and money.
Optimizing Your PCB Schematic Design Process
For the most part, today’s product design software tools are very good at performing basic PCBA design functions. However, most have shortcomings and are not equipped to handle all of the important PCB schematic design checklist tasks for optimization. As an example, real-time error checking during design is not a generally available EDA tool capability. And integrated advanced simulation functionality is even rarer. In order to optimize your schematic design process, the following are essential.
Optimizing Your PCB Schematic Design Checklist Implementation
- Understand and follow the steps of a good PCB schematic design checklist
- Use a capable PCB design software program to implement schematic design steps
- Select and use simulation software that integrates with your design software to verify your design
By following the guidelines above with a good PCB schematic design checklist as a foundation you can help maximize your circuit board development resource investments and achieve the greatest quality, reliability and profitability results.
EMA Design Automation is a leading provider of the resources that engineers rely on to accelerate innovation. We provide solutions that include PCB design and analysis packages, custom integration software, and engineering expertise, which enable you to create more efficiently. For more information on effective PCB schematic checklist design execution and how we can help you or your team innovate faster, contact us.
